When I was a boy there were no smart phones, computers were something you saw on STAR TREK, and our television only got one channel clearly. Still, I was never bored. The fields, hills, and woodlands around my home were the perfect playgrounds whose adventures were only limited by my imagination. I can remember once hiking to a nearby lake and slowly walking around it. At the backside of it I was amazed to find an old, one lane, dirt road that I had never seen before. I immediately set out to travel it. It was full of muddy tire tracks and deep woods bordered it on both sides, but exploring it still seemed like a fine adventure.
I walked on and on for what seemed like hours. I am sure my guardian angel was whispering in my ear to turn around and head back home but I was stubborn and even a bit stupid, so I walked on. The dirt road gave way to a gravel one and then a paved one, yet there was still neither a car nor a house in sight. My legs were getting tired. I noticed that the sun was starting to go down and I grew scared. I didn’t want to end up trapped on this road in the dark of night, but I was sure it would be dark before I could make my way back to the lake again.
I continued to walk on with the something growing inside of me. My heart was pounding and my legs were aching. I was almost in tears when I turned one last curve and saw something in the distance. It was a house that I recognized. My heart leapt up! I jumped up and down and laughed out loud. I knew the way home! It was still over a mile away but my legs felt like feathers and I hurried back to my house in no time. I walked in with a big smile on my face just in time for dinner. Then I ended my adventure with a good night’s sleep.
I often thought of that experience recently. Actually, in our life, all roads, no matter how they twist and turn, can lead us home again. They can lead us to our homes here on Earth. They can lead us to our homes in our hearts. May you always walk your path with love. May you always help your fellow travelers along the way. And may your roads always lead you Home again.
1.Why did the author hardly feel bored when he was young?
A. He could watch TV all day. B. He could have fun in nature.
C. He had many friends to play with. D. He used to explore the old dirt road.
2.What does the underlined word “something” in Paragraph 3 probably refer to?
A. Doubt. B. Hope. C. Fear. D. Courage.
3.How did the author feel when he was exploring the dirt road?
A. He was contradictory in mind. B. He was unconscious of danger ahead.
C. He was worried to be trapped in the woods. D. He was afraid of being scolded by his parents.
4.What may be the best title for the passage?
A. Every Effort Is Worthwhile B. All Roads Lead Home
C. Be Determined in Your Life D. Be Brave to Explore
China Train Guide
Quick Guide on China Train Travel
If you’re looking for an affordable and comfortable way to get around China, train travel is the way to go. Getting train information and cheap train tickets has never been easier. Online train ticket booking makes it easy for travelers to look through China’s train timetable, compare train fares, and look for ticket availability. Once you’ve found a suitable train, you can book online and pick your tickets up at the train station or get them delivered to your home or hotel. Train tickets can be booked online a minimum of 35 minutes and a maximum of 60 days before departure.
How to choose train types
When you’re buying China train tickets online, you’ll notice that the journey duration differs depending on which type of train you choose. China train types can be recognized by their letter codes G, D and C trains are high-speed trains, while Z, T and K are slower or overnight trains. China’s high-speed trains run between Chinese provincial capitals and first-tier Chinese cities. G trains (high-speed trains, standing for gāotiě) are China’s bullet trains—the fastest trains with a maximum speed of 400 km／h. Tickets for these trains are the most expensive.
How to buy train tickets
Unless you can read Chinese, there are only two ways to make train reservations in China:
—Online train ticket booking with a travel agency (up to 60 days before departure).
—At the train station／local ticket agency with your passport (up to 58 days before departure).
How to read train tickets
When reading your train ticket, please take note of the Chinese characters and Pinyin printed next to your departure / arrival city. Directions (North, South, East, and West) appear in Pinyin (Bei, Nan, Dong, and Xi), not English. Please make sure you are going to the correct train station.
1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A. It’s difficult to get train information in China.
B. You can get on the train without tickets after booking online.
C. Travelling by train in China is not very expensive.
D. Train tickets online are available at any time within 60 days before you leave.
2.If Mr. Smith needs to travel from Jinan to Beijing for something urgent, he’d better take ___________.
A. G trains B. Z trains C. D trains D. Overnight trains
3.Who are the intended readers of the passage?
A. Native tourists. B. Travel agencies. C. Foreign travelers. D. Businessmen.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.When is the competition held?
A. On December 7th. B. On December 12th. C. On December 17th.
2.Where is the competition to be held this year?
A. Near a lake. B. At the Town Hall. C. At the radio station.
3.What is the prize for the first-prize winner?
A. A ride on a plane. B. A talk with a musician. C. A visit to a school.
4.How can people get more information?
A. By speaking to Maggie in person.
B. By going to the radio station.
C. By making a phone call.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Who got the girl a skateboard?
A. Her dad. B. Her uncle. C. Her mum.
2.Where is the girl’s box from?
A. Canada. B. Australia. C. Brazil.
3.What is the girl’s favorite thing?
A. A guitar. B. A toy bear. C. A poster.
4.What does the boy think of the girl’s bowl?
A. Strange. B. Interesting. C. Beautiful.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.How much is the blue dress?
A. $35. B. $20. C. $18.
2.Why doesn’t the woman buy the dress right now?
A. It’s expensive. B. Its color is not good. C. It’s a bit large for her.
3.What will the women do next Tuesday?
A. Attend a weeding. B. Fetch a dress. C. Order a dress.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where does the conversation probably take place?
A. In a store. B. In a company. C. At home.
2.What will the speakers do next?
A. Move a table. B. Clean a carpet. C. Have a meeting.
